The Cincinnati Bengals want him back, but the Minnesota Vikings and Pittsburgh Steelers are being tied to Flacco too, and that is where it gets interesting because those situations could come with a lot more than clipboard duty.
Joe Flacco to the Vikings could be a real bridge plan
Minnesota’s quarterback picture is still murky with J.J. McCarthy’s status creating real uncertainty, and that is exactly why the Vikings were mentioned as a potential Flacco spot.
The veteran is entering his age 41 season, but he just proved he can still keep an offense afloat, finishing 2025 with 2,479 passing yards, 15 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions while completing 60.3% of his throws.
Joe Flacco does not look like a 41 year old pic.twitter.com/Ob8LG7AZy8
— Playoff Evan (@Baltlol) February 4, 2026
He also earned a Pro Bowl nod, which only adds to the idea that he is a legitimate bridge option if the Vikings want insulation while they sort out the long-term plan.
Steelers and Bengals both have reasons to chase Joe Flacco
In Pittsburgh, everything hinges on Aaron Rodgers. If Rodgers returns, the Steelers likely look elsewhere.
If he does not, Flacco suddenly fits as the steady veteran who can start games, manage chaos, and keep a roster competitive while the team figures out its next move.
I asked Joe Flacco if the NFL has a quarterback development problem and he launched an impassioned take on how personal calls have changed games and hurt the position and sport.
— Kevin Clark (@bykevinclark) February 4, 2026
"We signed up to get hurt, you might not like that but it's what we kinda did." Watch: pic.twitter.com/51fkGnMnGY
Cincinnati’s angle is different but just as logical. The Bengals see Flacco as the type of high-end backup who can step in if Joe Burrow gets dinged up again, and it helps that Flacco already stabilized things for them last season, throwing for 1,664 yards with 13 touchdowns and four picks in nine appearances after arriving midseason.
This might come down to what Flacco wants at this point. If he is chasing the clearest path to playing time, Minnesota or Pittsburgh could look more appealing depending on how their depth charts shake out.
Photo Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images
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